Actions

Doctors spending more time with patients see better medical outcomes, research says

Posted: 7:32 AM, May 08, 2019

Updated:2019-05-08 13:32:13Z

By:
Kumasi Aaron

According to new research, when doctors take time to make human connections, or be compassionate, patient outcomes improve and medical costs go down.

Doctor Christopher Trojanovich says he really wants to know everything when he meets with new patients.

Patients such as Mary Jane Spanfelner.

“He’s very understanding … it takes time to listen to you. And he’ll sit down, and sometimes I’ll talk for a half an hour or more,” Spanfelner said.

Trojanovich spent more than an hour with patient Andrew Buttrell, who says that time spent with the doctor makes a difference with his health needs.

“I think when you spend more time with somebody, you get to know them. They get to know you and you become more like friends talking with each other and solving problems,” Buttrell said.

Trojanovich said it feels good to become the listening ear, and the learner. It helps to make a better health care decision, he said.

New research included in the book "Compassionomics"
shows that health outcomes improve when doctors are more compassionate and spend more time with patients. It also makes the doctor happier in his or her work — helping lower the possibility of burnout.

Even just 40 seconds more of time spent with patients changes medical issues, the authors of "Compassionomics" told NPR in an interview.